Sayakbay – Homer of 20th Century

ASIAN PERSPECTIVE

SCREENING

SYNOPSIS

The story begins with the world famous writer Chingiz Aitmatov, a student of the Literary Institute in Moscow who goes to visit the ‘manaschi’ narrator Sayakbay to gain a better understanding of the epic of Manas. During the two days spent with Sayakbay, the narrator talks about his life, about becoming a ‘manaschi’ storyteller not as a personal choice but a calling at the behest of the spirit of Manas. Through the accounts of Sayakbay, the viewers become witnesses of the participation of Sayakbay Karalaev in the Kyrgyz uprising against the Russian autocracy in 1916 during the First World War. In contrary to the narrative of the Kyrgyz uprising, Sayakbay also talks of taking part in the defense of Moscow among the Panfilov division of Kyrgyz and Kazakh soldiers during the Second World War. The atheistically inclined student and future literary figure begins to understand the spiritual culture and the roots of their people. At the end of the film the writer begins to see spirits of the characters of the epic of Manas with his own eyes. Sayakbay Karalaev gives his blessing to Chyngyz Aitmatov and the patron of the great storyteller will accompany the young writer on his way to worldwide fame.

TRAILER

DIRECTOR

Ernest Abdyjaparov

Ernest Abdujaparov is a film director, producer, screenplay writer and composer from Bishkek, Kyrgystan. Ernest Abdyjaparov was born in 1961 in Bishkek, Kyrgystan. He graduated from high school of Min-Kush in Naryn in 1978 and soon pursued his degree in Russian Language and Literature at Bishkek Humanities University. After graduating he worked teaching Russian Language and Literature. His childhood and years spent as a teacher at rural areas later influenced his work as a film director and screen play writer.

He started his career as a screenplay writer while working as an editor of “Korogoch” Film Magazine. He debuted as a film director in 1993, with a short film I bow before the spirit of Almanbet. Two years later he became the winner of 9 awards at International Film Festival, followed by the Grand Prize of Gold Dionysus in Greece for his short fiction film Taranchy (The Sparrow).

He became known internationally for his full fiction films Saratan (Kyrgyz Summer) and Boz Salkyn (Pure Coolness). Currently, Ernest Abdyjaparov works as an administrative manager of his studio, editor, producer and screenplay writer. Additionally he writes songs and composes music for his own films.